Chapter 192 - Li Ling Is Responsible!

"Sir, the newspapers and T.V. channels are blowing up. This has already gone out of hand. We need to say something," Xia looked to be worried as he showed Li Ling the tablet in his hand that displayed all the current trending news headlines. 

Li Ling pushed the tablet back as he responded, "You take care of that. Quietly." 

Xia pursed his lips as he pushed the tablet back towards Li Ling, "This is your mess, Sir. You should be the one to solve it." 

Li Ling looked at Xia for a solid minute and when he realized that there was no way he could win against the man, he sighed as he took the tablet and scrolled through the main news reports, "They want me to make an official statement?" 

Xia nodded his head, "They want an official statement for all of them." 

"Aren't they expecting too much from me?" 

Xia didn't know if he was supposed to laugh or cry as he heard this question, "Sir, you're the one who caused all this." 

Li Ling sighed as he gave the tablet back, "So what? Do I have to solve every mess I create?" 

Xia nodded unhesitantly, "That's how it normally goes." 

"..." 

Xia, "Do you want me to make up an official statement without your consultation." 

"No need," Li Ling sighed as he straightened his back, "Just say that the sensory room has no current plans for reopening or relaunching. For the time being, I'm closing it down for good. We still need to make sure that the safety of the players is guaranteed." 

"That's that. What about the questions regarding the nerve gear? Are we going to be honest with them?" 

Li Ling scoffed as he heard this question, "Be honest and say what exactly? That I regret creating a really dangerous game that could possibly kill you if you try and stop playing? Impossible!" 

"But that's exactly what you did," Xia commented blatantly. 

"And they don't need to know that," Li Ling spoke up immediately, "If I make a mistake, I take responsibility for it and solve it before anyone ever notices." 

"So you're taking responsibility now? Why don't I see you taking responsibility?" 

"..." Li Ling pursed his lips, "I have a feeling that you're trying to get on my nerves." 

Xia shrugged his shoulder as he responded, "You're overthinking it. I still work for you. Legally, I can't say anything against you." 

"..." 

So that's the only thing stopping you from saying anything against me? 

"I'm trying to take responsibility! I am! Let me think first!" Li Ling snapped. 

"May I suggest something?" 

"What?" Li Ling looked at the man sharply. 

Xia smiled thinly as he spoke up, "Why don't you announce your relationship with Zhihao?" 

"What?" 

"If you announce it, we can get our advertising team to cover up all the other stuff with this. People love gossip and dating scandals." 

Li Ling was silent for a second before he broke out laughing, "Are you really trying to make me the villain of my own story? I would not be using Zhihao like that!" 

"Then what do you plan to do?" 

"Just kill the news about the nerve gear. I'm sure you can manage to do that, can't you?" 

Xia nodded, "I can do that, but it would be nothing more than a temporary fix. Since this news has already been brought up to the surface, we can try to push it down but it would still rise again. What will you do when that happens?" 

Li Ling leaned back on his chair and looked up at the ceiling of his office, "Bury it down and call the special team." 

"The special team?" 

Li Ling nodded as he added, "Alvi needs a thorough check-up. We push the news down for now and by the time it pops up again, we make sure that we fix the bot." 

Xia almost wanted to laugh as he heard this, "You think fixing Alvi would be that easy?" 

"Of course, not. It would be anything but easy." Li Ling sighed, "But waiting isn't doing us any good now, is it? If we keep waiting, something really bad will happen and when it happens, we'll have no way of fixing the damage. All we would be able to do is control the damage." 

Xia nodded as he heard this, "Okay, we give an official statement about the sensory room, push down the nerve gear controversy and call the special team. What about the other thing?" 

"What other thing?" 

"Your dating scandal." 

"..." Li Ling suddenly broke out laughing, "What am I supposed to do with it? Just let it go as it is. I leave that to Zhihao. Let him deal with it. It's not connected to the company so you don't have to worry about it." 

"It is connected with the company. That's why I'm worried." 

"How so?" Li Ling frowned. 

"Mastermo isn't just a normal person. He's an online celebrity with quite a scary fanbase. If they find out that he's dating someone, I'm sure they would try and dig up more information on you. That could eventually lead to your identity getting leaked." 

"You think it's that easy to find me?" Li Ling chuckled, "You're thinking too much. His fanbase isn't that scary." 

Xia's eyes contracted as he heard this, "Better safe than sorry." 

Li Ling yawned as he closed his eyes and rested on the chair, "Then I guess, I'll choose to be sorry. I believe that I've hidden my identity well. Now, you should go and call the special team in my office. Inform me when they get here. I need to take a short nap." 

Xia nodded and was about to say something more but Li Ling jolted up as he added. 

"Actually, wait! Tell them to go over to the research center. Let's take a look at Alvi." 

"Yes, Sir." 

With this said, Xia left the office and let Li Ling take his short rest. 

For a few minutes, Li Ling closed his eyes and relaxed into the chair, but in the end, he could not completely rest. His curiosity got the best of him and he turned on his phone to look at the news article about him and Zhihao. 

The title itself was eyecatching and almost made him laugh. 

'What?! Mastermo and his little lover are getting official?!' 

Instead of reading the entire article itself, Li Ling skipped through it and reached the bottom that was filled with comments. 

[I'm shocked! I'm screaming! I'm crying! I'm too happy! Gadkjafh;dghofdri]

[Official. OFFICIAL!! It's freaking OfFiCIaL!!] 

[I'm confusion.] 

[Whaa~ Mastermo really played all of us, didn't he?] 

[I saw this coming.] 

[^ Shhh~ We all did. Now act surprised!] 

[^ I'm surprised and I'm not even acting.] 

[I can finally die in peace.] 

[Mastermo and Devilmagiclover are 100% dating. This is not a drill! I repeat, this is not a drill!] 

[What K-drama is this Lmfao!!!!!!!!]

[Nobody: 

Literally nobody: 

Not a single soul on earth: 

Me: *patiently munching on my popcorn as I wait for the fanfictions to roll in.] 

[Come here and listen. Listen closely. You hear that high-pitched scream? That's me screaming as I read this.] 

[With how much they are willing to show on the internet, I bet more happens off-screen. (~^ ^)~]

[Okay, guys! I did it! I finally did it! Chapter 1 of the fanfic is out!] 

[^ Damn it, you're fast! Drop the title.] 

[^ It's called 'My RPG partner is in love with me!']

[^ That title sounds rather accurate kekeke] 

[Anyone else who's just really happy for Zhihao? I mean, as a long-time fan, I was almost a hundred percent sure that he was gonna end up in one of those reality shows where he gets married to a gaming console.] 

[^ Wait wut?! Lol] 

[Your big sister blesses you both a happily wedded life!] 

[You know what would be funny? Turns out they are actually stepbrothers in real life lol.] 

[^ Damn that'll be a fanfic plot twist.]

[^ Oh Gawd please no!] 

[^ Is it time to dig more on him? Lol]

[Someone please find the real identity of Devilmagiclover! We need to make sure that he passes the vibe check!] 

[I expected a lot of hate comments but it seems that we all buried them.]

[Lol who would have the free time to come over here and hate on them? Mastermo is such a cute baby and his lover is even cuter. I vote them as the country's cutest couple!] 

[I HAVE A QUESTION! WHO THE HELL IS THE TOP?] 

[...]

[^ Turn off your Capslock first.]

[^ And I opp-] 

[^ I'm giving this comment a like because I want Zhihao to see this and respond.] 

[Mastermo is definitely the top! What are you guys even thinking about? There's no way he'll  bottom!] 

[I'm convinced that Mastermo is a power bottom!] 

[You guys are weird...]

[Mastermo as the power bottom... Damn... I need a fanfic! Please add BBtrash too!] 

[Hehehehe that would be one chaotic fanfic!] 

[Imagine if Mastermo or Devilmagiclover actually reads this comment section. Damn, that'll be awkward.] 

Li Ling didn't know if he wanted to laugh or cry as he read that comment. 

"Too late," Li Ling muttered as he continued to scroll through the comment section.